By Zachary Shahan, CleanTechnica
You may recall that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) finalized equity crowdfunding regulations nearly 5 years ago. Now, “Raise Green is the first company to offer equity crowdfunding focused on investments for climate solutions nationwide” under that option. One cool feature about the platform is it will help you to really see how far your money went on the climate or energy side of things, as well as the financial side. “Raise Green aims to give people the direct impact they have been looking to make on climate change by providing access to verifiable investment opportunities.”
Curious to learn more about the inspiration for starting this, the founding team’s thoughts on the investment climate today and in the coming decade, and a few other matters, I asked Franz Hochstrasser, CEO and Co-Founder of Raise Green, a few questions to supplement the news and add more context. Read more here.
Photo: Co-Founders Franz Hochstrasser (left) and Matthew Moroney
Previously Posted
Alumni seek students’ insights into Raise Green crowdfunding platform, Yale News
NEWS FROM OTHER STATES
- Nevada’s NV Energy says transmission, solar-plus-storage to play key role in new resource plan, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. Berkshire Hathaway Energy subsidiary NV Energy Inc. on July 20 released a plan to build more than 500 miles of transmission lines and three solar-plus-storage projects as a part of its upcoming integrated resource plan. The state of Nevada is betting on solar-plus-storage projects to reach its renewable portfolio standard, which requires 50% of electricity sales to come from renewable energy sources by 2030.
- Arizona regulatory staff proposes 100% clean energy standard by 2050, Utility Dive
Staff of the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) on Thursday proposed a 100% Clean Energy Standard by 2050, a new integrated resource planning (IRP) process and other rule changes as part of the state’s efforts to modernize electricity regulation. The proposal includes a “technology neutral” all-source request for proposal (RFP) process where utilities solicit bids from market participants to address resource needs. - PJM 194 MW Green River Wind Farm, Developed and Operated by Geronimo Energy, to Provide $55 Million in Economic and Social Benefits for Lee and Whiteside Counties, Illinois, Geronimo Energy News Release. Project has power contracts with Apple, Akamai, Swiss Re and Illinois Municipal Electric Agency.
- Alliant aims for carbon-neutral electricity, says plans will save billions for ratepayers, Wisconsin State Journal. Alliant has told regulators it can save customers up to $6.5 billion over the next 35 years by adding more than 1,600 megawatts of renewable generation, closing one of its two remaining Wisconsin coal plants and taking other undisclosed actions.
- Wisconsin installer helps flood-stricken town increase energy independence with solar + storage, Solar Power World. Current Electric is a certified Tesla installer with experience installing solar + storage systems. In November 2019, the crew installed seven grid-tied Powerwalls set up for self-consumption at the three locations. The batteries integrated easily into the existing systems, even one with a 10-year-old inverter.
- City ready to break ground on solar farm Friday, Ames Tribune
SunSmart Ames, a community solar farm, aims to make solar energy accessible to customers who can’t install solar panels on their own property. It allows customers of Ames Electric Services to purchase a power pack, which is roughly half of a full panel, and receive credit on their utility bill.
COMANCHE 3 – ‘COLORADO’S BILLION DOLLAR MISTAKE’
Will Colorado’s newest coal plant survive beyond 20 years?, by Allen Best, The Aspen Times
A 2019 law, HB19-1261, the Climate Action Plan to Reduce Pollution, ordered electrical utilities regulated by the PUC to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide 80% by 2030 relative to 2005 levels. This is part of a broader goal identified by the law of decarbonizing Colorado’s economy 50% by 2030. A majority of coal plants in Colorado will be closing during the decade. Altogether, nine coal-burning units at five stations across the state will be closed by 2030. That will leave just four units, including Comanche 3, remaining in operation, all of them operated by Xcel.
Previously Posted: Xcel Energy proposes one of largest packages of energy investments in state history, Xcel News Release, Business Wire. Almost $3 billion of accelerated and incremental capital investment planned to support Minnesota’s economic recovery, advance clean energy goals, and keep customer bills stable.
GLOBAL SOLAR MARKET
Terawatt scale by 2022, PV Magazine International
The solar sector is no stranger to breaking records. Perhaps the most impressive figure to emerge from SolarPower Europe’s new ‘Global Market Outlook’ is that the global solar sector will reach terawatt scale by 2022 – just four years after the 500 GW milestone was reached. Michael Schmela from SolarPower Europe sets out the reasoning behind this and other key findings in the report.
Michael Schmela is executive adviser, head of market intelligence, and a member of the leadership team at SolarPower Europe, the continent’s PV industry association.
SPP NEWS
Southwest Power Pool could add more than 5 GW of wind generation capacity by end-2020, S&P Global. The rise in wind generation as part of a national energy transition toward renewable sources has pulled down wholesale power prices.
100% RENEWABLE ENERGY
Applied Materials to go 100% renewable, inks wind PPA with Apex, Renewables Now
Applied Materials Inc, which makes equipment used in the production of solar cells, will be one of the off-takers of Apex Clean Energy’s 500-MW White Mesa wind project in Texas.
MORE WIND ENERGY NEWS
Wind power is emerging as the main source of renewable energy, Reve
For the last five years, American businesses have been buying 20% of all new wind farm capacity installed in the U.S. And that number is only going to grow. Wind-generated electricity is a bargain. Costs have fallen about 70% over the last decade. These lower prices have attracted a much more diverse group of customers.
AWEA Resources
NEW CARBON FOOTPRINTS STUDY
Wealthy American homes have carbon footprints 25% higher than low-income residences, study says, CNN
In some particularly affluent US suburbs, emissions are up to 15 times higher than nearby neighborhoods, according to the study published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The homes of wealthy Americans generate around 25% more greenhouse gases compared to lower-income residences, mostly because of their larger size, a new study found. The study’s authors say improving energy efficiency in the home is a huge opportunity for homeowners — and especially wealthy ones — to lower their energy usage.